Fender Dennis Galuszka Master Built 1956 Stratocaster Relic – USA 2021

From Fender Custom Shop: 

Like Fender itself, Dennis Galuszka is a Southern California native. Combining his dual passions for music and woodworking, he began building high-end acoustic guitars during his 13 years as a cabinetmaker. As a working drummer, it was a 1999 audition with one of the Fender Master Builders that led to a job interview and a new kind of steady gig—as an apprentice at the Fender Custom Shop. 

After only eight months there, Galuszka was promoted to Master Builder. He has since built finely crafted instruments for influential players including Paul McCartney, Andy Summers, Johnny Marr, Patrick Stump, Mike Dirnt, Sting and many others. He has lent his expertise to a number of truly distinctive instruments, including double-neck guitars and unusual takes on classic Fender designs, and several artist model designs. “It’s all about the feel and sound of an instrument,” Galuszka said. “Those things are number one with me, above everything else.” 

About the 1956 Fender Strat Relic: 

“1956 was a transitional year for the Strat, with the introduction of alder bodies rather than ash on Sunburst and custom-colour models. Overall, the 1956 Strat became a highly sought-after classic, and now we’ve given it several updated player-friendly appointments for comfort and improved tonal capabilities. 

The two-piece alder body’s Relic lacquer finish gives the look and feel of a well-loved guitar that’s seen countless stages. The quartersawn maple neck plays fast, with a comfortable 9.5”-radius fingerboard and 21 frets. The trio of Hand-Wound Fat ‘50s single-coil pickups with Fat ‘50s wiring that creates stronger tone with more transparent bloom, reducing treble loss when rolling back volume—achieved in part by wiring the tone pot to the output of the volume pot. Other features include Light Relic hardware, five-way switch, Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo, vintage-style tuning machines and bone nut.” 

This is a very tasty guitar, made to look and feel just right by Fender Master Builder – Dennis Galuszka. It is surprisingly resonant acoustically. The relic treatment is described as heavy, which means it is through to the wood in some places, and with deliberately inflicted buckle rash on the back. Finished in Fiesta Red nitro, the lacquer shows subtle crazing which looks authentically natural. 

The guitar is in excellent overall condition, with no modifications & everything works as it should. Showing miniscule fret wear, tuners are solid, quality trem bridge intonates well. One-piece, quartersawn maple neck and board with a rear walnut skunk stripe, centre dot inlays, truss adjustment at the heel. 

A true Fender classic with the perfect vintage feel, without the vintage price tag.   

It comes in its original Fender Custom Shop tweed hard shell case along with its Dennis Galuszka Master Built Certificate of Authenticity and all case candy.

Specs: 

Scale length: 25.5” 

Fretboard Radius: 9.5” 

Finish: Fiesta Red Relic 

Weight: 3.45kg / 7.61lbs 

Action at 1st fret: 0.25mm 

Action at 12th fret: 1.5mm 

Neck depth at 1st fret: 20.54mm 

Neck depth at 12th fret: 24.31mm 

Neck profile: 60 Style Oval “C” 

Nut Width: 41.94mm 

12 fret width: 51.6mm 

Nut Material: Bone 

Neck material: Quartersawn Maple with Maple Fingerboard 

Fretboard inlays: Micarta Black Dot 

Body: Alder 

Front Pickup: Hand-wired Fat 50’s Strat Relic 

Middle Pickup: Hand-wired Fat 50’s Strat Relic 

Bridge Pickup: Hand-wired Fat 50’s Strat Relic 

Tuners: Vintage Fender 

Pickguard: 1-ply ‘54-58 Strat 

Bridge: American Vintage Strat Gold 

Case: OHSC